3/28/2024 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Had some funk initially that mostly blew off after about an hour in the decanter. Incredibly unique flavor profile with rather deep honeysuckle and melon notes, and some sort of minerality that is difficult to further characterize but that I could not recall tasting in any wine before. Slight residual low level funk/tang had be wondering if this particular bottle might have been at it's peak 5-10 years ago. Excellent experience in any case.

3/17/2024 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Decanted 4 hours. Lovely.

3/17/2024 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Decanted for 4 hours. Drank with North African spiced chicken. Spectacular.

3/17/2024 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Miller brought this. It was decanted for about 2-3 hours and consumed mostly after dinner. Excellent.

3/17/2024 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Decanted to 90 minutes. Delicious, classic Margaux.

3/10/2024 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Needed about an hour in the decanter, then spectacular.

3/7/2024 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Fantastic day 1, even better days 2 and 3. Exceptional value at this stage of maturity.

2/25/2024 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Excellent. Drink now - 2030

2/25/2024 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Had a couple nights ago, no tasting notes but I enjoyed this tremendously, more so than I remember enjoying previous bottles. Not sure if it was the 2019 vintage or subjective palate variation, but I will note to re-purchase if possible.

2/25/2024 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Great on opening, better after 60+ minutes of air. Drink now with decant or hold.

2/8/2024 - bobadopolis wrote:

Previous times I have had this wine were among the best BDMs I have had. This bottle, my last, was toast. Undrinkable. A sad ending to an otherwise unprecedented run of amazing bottles. Presumably due to bottle/cork variation, but I might consider drinking on the sooner side, particularly based on how amazing previous experiences were.

2/8/2024 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Probably the best Cab Franc I've ever had. 30 minutes in the decanter, then sublime.

1/27/2024 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Very light in color. Lemon and lemon rind on the nose. Palate reveals meyer lemon, lemon curds, tall grasses on the front, then custard, cream puff pastry, and a hint lingering lemon on the back end. Super fresh and bright. Incredibly jovial and light-hearted. Love it!

1/23/2024 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Exceeded expectations on the first night. Gone on night 2. Drink now

1/23/2024 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Better out of the bottle than at 3 hours in the decanter. Would probably drink now based on this bottle

1/23/2024 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Past bottles of this vintage have been spectacular, but this sourced bottle was not up to par with prior experiences. Light on fruit, no redeeming secondary flavors ... Hopefully bottle variation. Procured from Benchmark.

1/23/2024 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Steely and rather light on fruit. Passed vintages have put this bottle to shame.

1/23/2024 - bobadopolis wrote:

Undrinkable

1/20/2024 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Brief decant, then spectacular

1/13/2024 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Decanted for 90 minutes then spectacular. At Jim and Sofie's.

1/10/2024 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

A little muted on opening, but came alive after a couple hours of air. A spectacular accompaniment to a chicken curry soup. Exceeded expectations for sure.

12/27/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Christmas dinner at Bruce and Robin's. Decanted and aerated to 2 hours in the late afternoon, then rebottled and consumed at dinner with beef tenderloin. Fairly high EtOH without food, but at the table with food was not notably hot. Spectacular wine. Drink now with air or hold.

12/27/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Magnum. Drank at Bruce and Robin's Christmas night. Absolutely spectacular. Creme brulee, lemon background, pie crust and custard ... so smooth on the palate, velvety texture, almost like butter. Amazing, I have to assume this is in it's peak window now, and will probably coast along at peak for another 10 years or so. One of the top 2-3 champagnes I've had in my life. Thank you so much, Joy!

12/27/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Classic Margaux. Decanted for about 2 hours. Superb

12/21/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Decanted for about and hour, then unbelievably delicious.

12/13/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

There was something a little tangy or funky on opening. More-or-less blew off after 30 minutes in the decanter or so. Otherwise nice wine.

12/9/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Great on opening. Better after 30-60 minutes in the decanter. A little high on the EtOH, but didn't pick up on that until the last glass. Tannins are smooth and mellow but not absent. Very enjoyable. Drink now with air or hold for anther decade or so.

12/3/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

On the downward slide but still delicious. About 30 minutes in the decanter helped round out the edges. Great experience, but based on this bottle would drink now.

11/29/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Had this a few nights ago. From memory, hot and youthful with big jammy fruits. Foundational flavors are otherwise great, but for me this falls a bit heavy on the Parkerized side of the equation, if you can say that about at Grand Cru from St. Emilion. 15% ABV may preclude this from achieving a higher score, but will see what happens over the next decade or so. Next bottle 2025+

11/25/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Fantastic.

11/25/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Spectacular after about 2 hours in the decanter. Drink now with extended decant or hold indefinitely

11/25/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Magnum. Benefitted from air, was probably in the decanter about 2 hours before dinner. Fantastic with dark ripe fruit and loads of flavor. Excellent now and should coast along for another decade.

11/25/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

2023 Thanksgiving at Sandhu's. Probably would have benefitted from some air initially, but otherwise rather fantastic.

11/25/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

2023 Thanksgiving at Sandhu's. Great after about 30 minutes.

11/18/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Fantastic after about an hour in the decanter

11/11/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Spectacular out of the bottle, and even better after about 45 minutes in the decanter. Superb darker blue and black fruit, very mellow tannic structure, and super long finish. Absolutely loved this. Drink now with air or hold. This will probably coast along for at least another decade.

11/7/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

This bottle has held up remarkably well over the last decade

11/4/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

This bottle was on the decline for sure, as noted by others, but still amazing. Brief decant helped blow off a little tang that was present on opening. Recommend drinking now based on this bottle.

11/4/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Loved this chard. Pie crust, lemon curd and a bit of lemon zest. Crisp and refreshing, a little bit of background oak. Excellent.

10/27/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

30 minutes in the decanter, then spectacular

10/25/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Great night 1. Lost it's luster day 2. Drink now

10/25/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Spectacular

10/25/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Lovely.

10/25/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Excellent following brief decant

10/25/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Surprisingly delicious

10/18/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Better after 40 minutes in the decanter. Resolved tannins. Lighter fruit.
Nice wine. Probably best to drink within the next 5 years

10/17/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

On the downward trajectory, but still pleasant

10/7/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

I decanted this for about 20 minutes, rebottled, and brought to an outdoor dinner event. The wine was nothing short of spectacular. Huge purple and black fruit predominates. Tannins smooth and silky at this stage. Really nice lengthy finish. Couldn’t of hoped for a better experience from Hall

10/2/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Wife drank most of this. Thought my few sips were delicious .

9/30/2023 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

Think this will improve over the next few years. Next bottle 2025+